97 Google Searching Tips

Who doesn't like a good tip for searching Google? There are literally tons of tips and tricks for using this search engine to find just about anything you're looking for, as well as a few things you weren't.

But let's say you aren't quite the geek that some of us other are. Maybe this whole internet thing is new to you. Hey - everyone starts somewhere, right? Here is a list of of some handy tips for searching through Google that should get you started in the right direction.

By all means - experiment! That's how we find now and strange ways of doing things!

The best way to begin searching harder with Google is by clicking the Advanced Search link.

This lets you search for exact phrases, "all these words", or one of the specified keywords by entering search terms into the appropriate box.

You can also define how many results you want on the page, what language and what file type you're looking for, all with menus.

Advanced Search lets you type in a Top Level Domain (like .com or .net) in the "Search within site of domain" box to restrict results.

And you can click the "Date, usage rights, numeric range and more" link to access more advanced features.

Save time – most of these advanced features are also available in Google's front page search box, as command line parameters.

Google's main search invisibly combines search terms with the Boolean construct "AND". When you enter smoke fire – it looks for smoke AND fire.

To make Google search for smoke or fire, just type smoke OR fire 9. Instead of OR you can type the | symbol, like this: smoke | fire

Boolean connectors like AND and OR are case sensitive. They must be upper case.

Search for a specific term, then one keyword OR another by grouping them with parentheses, like this: water (smoke OR fire)

To look for phrases, put them in quotes: "there's no smoke without fire"

Synonym search looks for words that mean similar things. Use the tilde symbol before your keyword, like this: ~eggplant

Exclude specific key words with the minus operator. new bike -ebay excludes all results from eBay.

Common words, like I, and, then and if are ignored by Google. These are called "stop words".